Venice & All Things Jewellery Related

So the big day has arrived, actually two big days have arrived!

Firstly, and probably more importantly for my future, today I can apply for my Decree Absolute. This means I will officially be divorced when it comes through. It seems an awfully long time to wait (6 weeks & 1 day) from the Decree Nisi but I guess it makes people think about what they are doing and the full implications. The worst bit for me have been the dreams; my dad dying, E dying, moving out of the marital home but moving just up the street next to a cemetery. The common theme seems to be death and I guess that's fairly understandable as I would have been married for 19 years this year and it's quite a big thing to get over.

Secondly and far more exciting, E & I are off to Venice tomorrow!! :0) Our flight is at 8.10am so it means a really early start but not even that can quell my excitement. We've thought about going for so long so it's a bit of a surprise that we haven't really planned what we are going to do when we get there. So we had a chat and we've decided that we aren't going to do the whole 'running around, looking at things for 2 secs and take a photo' thing but generally just amble about and take in the flavour of Venice. That's not to say we won't visit St Marks (or San Marco to us who know the lingo) with its' Basilica and of course we are staying right next to the Rialto Bridge. My only plan is to ensure I get a photo of an empty gondola tied up at the end of the afternoon with the sun going down, actually I'll just be happy to get some photos without millions of tourists in it..........and buy lots of BEADS from Murano so I can truthfully say 'Murano Bead Jewellery' without my nose growing like Pinnochio! I had a look at Etsy and the amount of people who say 'Murano....' when you KNOW it just isn't!!

E & I have just had a trial run at making our own ear wires and found it to be quite easy. That's not to say that there isn't a knack. Never again do I have to put boring earwires on my earrings....well, I do until I get the cup bur tool which rubs the rough edges down so your don't have blood dripping from your ear.

So 'Ciao' till next week!!

Venice

Whoop! Whoop! Whoop! I'm really excited! E & I are going to Venice next week for the Bank Holiday. I'm not quite sure why I've suddenly got so excited seeing as it's been booked since March or April but I am!

I've bought a guide book and we've managed to locate our hotel on the map. That may sound a bit dense but if you've ever seen a Venice street map then you'll know what I'm talking about! We're staying in a little hotel http://www.locandapostevecie.com/ which is a stones throw from the Rialto Bridge, which is only then a hop & a skip from St Marks Square.

So I suddenly have the urge to make a list of things I need; sun cream, mozzie cream, after sun, 10 pairs of shoes, 16 changes of clothes, etc etc. Men, why do they make you feel like you take too much stuff on holiday with you. So what if I do want to take 10 pairs of shoes, they fit in the case and I'm the one dragging it through the streets and I have the weight allowance on our luxury travel conveyor (Easyjet to you!) I am slightly concerned about getting my bum in the seat and getting the belt around me to fit, it's always a bit of a squeeze but one day I won't be able to push my flab above the belt!

I told a work colleague we were going and she said stepping in the Rialto Bridge was like stepping into a 17th Century Oil Painting, which sounds kind of magical and awe inspiring. I hope I don't fill up like I did when G & I went to see The Last Supper.

I have told E that I want to get up at the crack of dawn and get to St Marks at say 7 oclock in the morning so I can take photos without millions of tourists in them.....bet everyone else has that idea. She said 'ok, we can get pissed on sunday night'. G will be in Edinburgh when I'm away, on a stag night. I'm slightly happier at his location. It was supposed to be Hamburg but the guys were all 'nipple tassel'ed out and are going for the paint ball option!

Sorry no photo today...maybe next week.

Catch up

Oh dear, I haven't been here in a little while have I!

I've been a busy bee running around with G & E, making more jewellery and of course, trying to run a business.

E & I went on a stained glass 1 day course a little while ago. It was in Midhurst, run by a company called Artworks. Nancy who runs the company, and this course, is absolutely lovely and extremely patient.

She showed us how to cut glass in straight lines and curves and then encouraged us to design our own piece to make. But the first thing she told us was that we would cut our hands, and boy was she right! At the end I had 3 plasters over cuts and a burn from the soldering iron. It was good fun and despite my cackhand-ness I came away with a lovely piece which sits in my front window. I'm not sure if I'd want to do it as a full time hobby but it's nice to have had a go!

I got back from there shattered only to have missed loads of calls from G who couldn't find his car keys. That's what you get for putting them in the bottomless pit that is my handbag!

Last week we went to a friends BBQ where G & E got both got a little drunk & on Sunday we were on the road to Wembley for the community shield (that's football for those not in the know). I like the new staduim but it was so hot and the shape means there's no air circulating. So I hope you've been checking out my jewellery on http://www.poppyfieldsdesign.etsy.com/ 10% off for all blog friends

Glorious Goodwood

The racing at Goodwood on the July course is the highlight of their racing season. I've been twice before (not this event though), once where is rained solidly all day and another time viewing from the restaurant. On this occasion I have never seen so many people crammed in.
The weather all week had been very poor, as in pouring with rain! And I was concerned that it wasn't going to be a nice day out but the morning bought sunshine which lasted all day.

G & I managed to miss the turning, which was completely my fault. It's not far from where I live and I just assumed I knew the way. But we got there where people were pushing and shoving to get in, almost killing themselves by crossing the road in front of moving buses and cars. It was all a bit mental!

Ladies day was the day before so I was really surprised to see so many ladies in vibrant hats, very, very high heels and beautiful dresses. Fortunately I had made some sort of effort and didn't feel completely out of place.
The first race we couldn't see because we decided to go to the top of the Grandstand but there were just too many people. We found a more suitable viewing spot for the rest of the day. G placed his bets with the bookies but I took the more restrained approach by betting on the tote. We both had 2 wins in the day, but his bet paid 4/1 where the mean tote only paid 2.5/1 :-( The first rule of gambling is to never change your mind on who you're going to bet on. I broke this rule to my own cost and missed out on a 9/1 winner! Drat!

But we had a lovely day, drove home with the top down on the car and realised we both had managed to get sunburnt!

I'm in love........(blush)

oh dear, I've just been told of by E for saying how I had nothing to write today but she said, 'of course you have, you're in love!' So I stand corrected and hence the above statement.

G and I have been dating for 9 months now and whilst I have told him I love him a million times I'm really feeling it at the moment. I'd love to say that I'm all skittish, and dewey eyed but what I mean is that we are very happy together, and I feel really part of a two-some.

We have also shared some stuff over the past week or so, things from the past and information about each other that we've held back from revealing because we were scared to say, that it might frighten the other off.

So G, I love you and I don't care who knows it.

Poppyfields Design

Well I've finally managed to get it all done! That's right, my online jewellery sales shop is up and running. The address is http://www.poppyfieldsdesign.etsy.com/

I know I was going to be called something different but wouldn't you know that when I went to register the name, it was gone! How annoying.

It's amazing how long these things take to do. Once I had made the decision I had to frantically start making things and if the creative juices aren't flowing, there's not alot you can do about it.

Even when you make the pieces, the next challenge is to photograph them. Luckily E found an great online tool which does amazing things to decidely average photos. It's at http://www.picnik.com/ You can lighten, darken, improve the colouring, put your name on......on and the list goes on.

Pricing is tricky. You want to sell, but you also want to get something for your time in making and your ability to be able to make, but not rip anyone off. My idea is that I'm only making things that I like, so if no-one buys, then at least I'll be left with jewellery I'm happy to wear.

The final challenge is putting them all up online. Goodness, how many different ways can you say 'this is a lovely bracelet'?

So have a look, please, and I'd love some feedback on my designs.

Happy friday, G is playing cricket all weekend so I have the weekend free to do all sorts of jobs. Mosaic tiling in my cloakroom...looking forward to it! :0)

I do like to be beside the seaside!

I'm just back to work after a weeks break with my neices. Oh my goodness, I'm absolutely shattered and need another week off to recover! Not having any kiddies I never realised exactly how hard work it is, and I take my hat off to all the mums out there especially if they're working as well. It's really made me appreciate what a special job they do. It's just so full on!

My two neices, T 10 & K 7 live in Exeter and their school breaks up early for the holidays so that's why they were with me, and of course they wanted to visit their auntie who lives at the seaside.

There weren't many ground rules except they couldn't come and wake me up before 8.30am. I am so glad I said that as they both wake up as bright as buttons and it's non stop til the time they go to bed. I must admit to being quite strict, but that's how I was brought up so I hope they had a lovely time.

We managed to get to the beach even though the weather wasn't brilliant. We also went to the small Natural History Museum with its butterfly house, along with the park, and the tea rooms attached to the 9 hole pitch and putt. They serve the yummiest cakes, which are absolutely massive!G took the day off and took us to Monkey World. It's not a zoo but a rescue centre where apes and monkeys from around the world get sent when they are rescued from illegal homes. We saw so many beautiful monkeys & orangutans which was amazing. But my favourite had to be seeing the Lemurs. Just soooooo cute and we were all singing 'I like to move it, move it' from Madagascar. The keeper must be really fed up with that one!